Artificial tooth.



J. A. GARDNER.

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB a. 19:5

15139265. Patented May 11, 1915.

ion.

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented l t/Kay 11, 1915,

Application filed February 3, 1915. 7 Serial No. 5,945.

To all whom it may conpern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. GARDNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Teeth; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in artificial teeth, and it is especially intended to provide a simple and rugged structure adapted to be readily applied and readily removed if necessary, and to stand the rough usage to which artificial teeth are inevitably subjected.

My present invention is especially intended to provide an improvement over the structure shown in my Patent No. 1064635, granted June 10, 1913, and entitled Artificial tooth.

The present invention more especially relates to anterior teeth, and to methods of mounting same, While it has certain qualities which adapt it also to be applied to use for posterior teeth; whereas my Patent No. 1064635, aforesaid, is more especially applicable in connection with posterior teeth.

In both inventions the object is to provide an improved artificial tooth which can be firmly anchored in position without the use of recesses or pins, which recesses serve not only as a source of weakness, but also to accumulate foreign matter.

The further object of the present invention is to provide strong and attractive artificial teeth, which, being located in the anterior portion of the mouth, are most prominent visually and otherwise, and according to my invention it is possible to entirely hide any gold, or other metallic material, permitting the presentation from the front of an apparently natural set of teeth. Moreover, according to my invention the translucency of the teeth is unimpaired, thus rendering the set more natural in appearance.

These and other objects of the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a rear perspective View of an anterior artificial tooth constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the tooth shown in perspective of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a section of the tooth taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 shows the artificial tooth with the metal backing or cope removed; Fig. 5 shows the artificial tooth with the metal backing or cope applied; and Fig. 6 shows a modification in which the secondary projecting lug is omitted.

Referring now to Figs. 1-5, 1 represents the artificial tooth having the occlusal surface or biting edge 2, and the labial surface 3. Back of the artificial tooth I provide a wedge-shaped lug 4, which is of dove-tailed form as shown most clearly at 5 in Fig. 3, and this dove-tailed lug terminates in a fiat surface 6, from which projects the auxiliary lug 7, which is preferably rectangular in cross section, but tapers slightly on the back as shown at 8 in Fig. 2.

In practice, this artificial tooth is provided with a metal cope 10, shown in Fig. 4, which fits snugly over the lugs 4 and 7, and close against the fiat tapered sides of the lug 4 and against the fiat surface 6 of said lug, as indicated at S 6' and 7 respectively. This cope is also provided with a web 11 which fits against the flat face 12 on the back of the main body portion of the artificial tooth. The metal cope is attached by means of solder to the cap or plate which fits over the outer end of the root of the natural tooth.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the auxiliary lug 7 is omitted, parts being otherwise the same as in the other figures.

I have shown the preferred form of construction, but it will be obvious that various modifications might be made which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. An artificial tooth provided with a body portion having a labial face, and in rear thereof a tapered dove-tailed lug projecting away from the occlusal portion in the form of a V-shaped dove-tailed wedge adapted to engage the corresponding cope.

2. An artificial tooth provided with a body portion having a labial face, and in rear thereof a tapered dove-tailed lug projecting away from the occlusal portion in the form of a V shaped dove-tailed wedge, the parts of said tooth at each side of said dove-tailed lug being flat, and the said lug and tooth away from the occlusal portion in the form 15 of a V-shaped dove-tailed wedge, the said dove-tailed lug being provided with an auxiliary lug rectangular in cross section projecting therefrom and integral therewith,

and adapted to engage the corresponding 20 cope.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature, 1n presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH ARCHIBALD GARDNER.

Witnesses:

ERNEsT lVILmNsoN, H. T. MOKEEVER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." 

